Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Wincanton and Lingfield on Saturday. View selections below.
CONSIGLIERE (2.05) has probably had the Bathwick Tyres Handicap Chase at Wincanton on his radar for some time and David Pipe’s topweight looks the best bet on the card.
Two years ago Consigliere came home 20 lengths clear in this same event, which was also run on soft ground. Consigliere races off a 6lb higher mark but Kieron Edgar’s 7lb claim negates that rise. The young rider steered his mount to a comfortable success at Ayr last January and Consigliere should be spot on after a recent outing at Ascot. Barlow should also handle these testing conditions, having ran third to Welsh National runner-up Hawkes Point at Chepstow.
There is a cracking 2m 4f hurdle in prospect, with Jumps Road asked to carry 12st 7lb after his fine run behind The New One at Cheltenham last month. He may well be up to the task but it remains a tall order on deep ground and Pipe’s WEATHER BABE (2.40) just gets the nod after chasing home Highland Retreat in a Listed event at Kempton. Maller Tree, an easy winner on New Year’s Day, will also be backed to follow up under a penalty.
At Lingfield, course and distance winner COPPERWOOD (11.50) has prospects of overturning form with Ocean Applause, a ready winner over a mile here on New Year’s eve. Copperwood was never put into the race by his inexperienced apprentice, staying on into fifth, and Jimmy Quinn takes over the reins.
KASHMIR PEAK (2.35) is better known as a hurdler these days but had some placed form on the all-weather at Dundalk when trained by Ger Lyons. His last run was down in the field in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham but John Quinn’s five-year-old signed off his flat campaign with a head defeat from John Gosden’s Thomas Hobson at Doncaster in late October. First-time blinkers are applied and he could give probable market leaders Modernstone and Grendisar something to think about in this Coral-backed 1m 4f handicap.
RIVELLINO (3.10) has been a frustrating sort but came good with a vengeance at Wolverhampton, putting plenty of distance between himself and runner-up Jay Bee Blue.
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